To Suffolk with the Silhouettes by Bett Julier.

The Anglia section of the Silhouette Owners' Association (of whom we are long-term members even though we've never owned a Silhouette !) had arranged for a meeting at Slaughden Quay near Aldeburgh for the spring Bank Holiday, so we decided to sail up in our Westerly Pageant Lincoln Aries to join them.

The morning of Wednesday 24th May was quite warm with sunny spells and we got down to the boat about 3.00pm and motored up to the end of the creek, where we hoisted the sails. The rain arrived soon afterwards but we had a good sail down the river and anchored in Pyefleet Creek around 8.00pm. After a late dinner, an early night, spent mostly listening to the rain.

Thursday 25th May, got up early and started off around 6.30am under genny only. We had a fairly stiff breeze which came around behind us, as we left the Colne and made our way up the coast. The wind was a bit chilly but we also got some sunshine and as we were making good time we decided to make straight for the entrance to the River Ore. We had gone up to Orford by car a few weeks previously and noted down the directions for getting into the river. Once we had located the Haven Buoy we found the directions very straightforward, except that the leading marks once you were turning into the river would take you across the end of one of the sand bars, but as it was still uncovered this proved no real problem. We got into the river and went up to Butley Creek where we anchored just past Boynton Dock for lunch. We later motored further up the creek but couldn't find anywhere we would stay afloat at low tide, so we went back and anchored just to seaward of the dock. The breeze died away completely and we had a lovely quiet night - absolutely still, not a ripple!

Friday 26th May - woke up to grey skies and the breeze came up after breakfast. Up anchored around 11.00am and sailed under genny up the river past Orford Quay in light airs and poor visibility. We anchored for lunch just past Orford, then sailed on up to Slaughden Quay to see if any of the Silhouettes had arrived. There were two which had already launched and another on the slipway. The owner of Blessim (who was one of the East Midland contingent) called our "leader", Brian Platts, and he told us that they were all going up to a small bay near the old Brickworks jetty for the night so we sailed up to wait for them. They were all going to take the ground but we prefer to stay afloat, so we anchored in about 15 feet of water. It was raining hard and blowing well by the time five Silhouettes arrived, but although we had already blown up the dinghy ready for going ashore, it was raining so hard we decided against it. The wind increased during the night and started shrieking in the rigging so we got no sleep, and when Bill took a sounding around 2.00am he found we were only in 3 feet of water, so assuming we were dragging we got kitted up and got the anchor up and re-set it. It appeared afterwards that in fact we were not dragging, but that the wind had gone round and we were pulling out the full 60 feet of anchor cable. We finally gave up trying to sleep around 4am and sat and watched the dawn break on a very wild scene.

Saturday 27th - the Silhouettes were now on a lee shore and all facing the wrong way. We moved a bit closer in and Bill took the dinghy over to see if he could help. He and Brian motored around for a bit, getting soaking wet (at least Brian did) in the process. Polly managed to turn herself round and get off, and Brian turned Sula round into the wind and they got off. One of the other Silhouettes got himself off after Bill and Brian had laid his anchor out a little way. Then Bill came back and Brian and Elizabeth on Sula managed to tow the other two off the beach, then they got a line round their own prop. We motored around while they anchored and cleared it, then we motored back towards Slaughden. The Silhouettes went back to the Quay but we decided to pick up a very substantial looking buoy.

The day was a mixture of sunshine and very gusty showers which we spent reading and listening to the radio. Just after the tide turned in the afternoon six Silhouettes came haring back up the river (there were in fact seven but we had missed the first one going past). They were going up to Iken Cliff, but as we thought they were staying there for the night we decided against it. Actually they went on to Snape where they had a meal ashore and tied up for the night. (We should have read the newsletter more thoroughly !)

Sunday 28th - a reasonably good night in spite of a couple of squalls which were short-lived. Around 4.00am the rain came down with a vengeance and the wind got steadily stronger. We saw seven Silhouettes skating back to Slaughden where they intended to stay for the night. The only other boats moving were a few of the open dayboats out for a sail. The barometer had dropped sharply overnight and we had very high winds and lots of rain all morning. The forecast from the Dutch Coastguards said the winds were going round to WNW and moderating. We sincerely hoped so !

Around 2.30pm Bill looking out saw a Silhouette coming up the river and it proved to be Brian and Elizabeth in Sula. They tied up alongside and came aboard. Apparently everyone else had decided to go home (and who could blame them?). We sat and had a chat and a cup of tea and eventually the weather improved, so we decided to go back to the Butley River for the night, stopping at Orford for water. We started out under genny, and Sula sailed almost all the way. Orford Quay is easy to tie up to and has a water tap and hose right on the quay. Having filled up we proceeded to Butley where we anchored around 7.00pm. Brian and Elizabeth sailed on up the creek after running aground, and eventually came back and tied up alongside. They came aboard for a meal and a chat and left just after midnight. Once again we had a perfectly still night.

Monday 29th. Woke up to a beautiful sunny morning. Did a few chores and got the dinghy back on board ready for our return trip down the coast. Around 2.30pm we set off and motored down almost to the river mouth where we anchored and waited for the tide to turn. At around 4.30 pm when the tide was slack we motored out. The conditions were perfect with an offshore wind which meant that the water was flat. We turned for Harwich and got the genny out. We had quite a strong wind for a little while as a squall went through, then it died off to not enough so we set the reefed main. Still not enough drive so we shook out the reef and sailed and sometimes motor-sailed down to the Walton Backwaters, where we anchored at 8.00pm at Stone Point.

Tuesday 30th May. There was hazy sun in the morning and very little wind. The forecast was for light and variable winds force 1 - 2. We set off after lunch bound for the Mersea Quarters and sailed and motorsailed down the coast. The autopilot really earned its keep. Off Holland-on Sea we saw a large smack being towed by a rowing dinghy, but they didn't want a tow. The skipper said that his mate, a young lad of about 14, insisted on rowing, so we left him to it. We got to the anchorage in Woodrolfe Creek about 8.00pm. There was a beautiful sunset and we had a calm night.

Wednesday 31st May. Woke up to a sunny morning with a light breeze (against us as usual). Left the creek around 9.00 am and had a very gentle sail up the river Blackwater. Luckily the tide was with us. The smack we had seen the night before was tacking up but he turned back at Thirslet Spit. We ended up by motoring back to the mooring and were not surprised to see that one of the bottom boards was missing from the dinghy, although there was less water in it than we expected. We discovered later that the people from Girl Friday had borrowed it so presumably they had bailed it out. So it was a quiet end to a week of very mixed weather, but then again - it was a Bank Holiday.